Energy regulator asked to probe Queensland's power prices, as 'political petty games' continue
Author: ABC News Date Posted:19 July 2017
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has been asked to investigate Queensland power prices by Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, in a move slammed as blatantly political by the State Government.
In the latest exchange in a brawl between the Queensland and Federal governments over energy policy, Mr Frydenberg has written to the AER offering to increase its powers so it can investigate the strategic bidding practices of Queensland's Stanwell Corporation and CS Energy.
CS Energy and Stanwell Corporation have been accused of "gaming the system" giving Queensland the nation's most expensive electricity and costing jobs.
The companies have been accused of using the market to drive up power prices to meet State Government demands for higher dividends.
"The former Queensland Labor government merged three generation companies into two, creating the concentration problem in the market," he said.
"The Queensland Government recently announced it was directing Stanwell to stop exploiting its market power.
